Ocracoke Beach named ‘America’s Best’ (Beaufort, Nags Head: motel, college, camping)

[mm34b]

Thursday Gov. Mike Easley announced that Ocracoke Beach on Ocracoke Island has been named the No. 1 beach on “Dr. Beach’s Annual America’s Best Beaches” list of 2007. The announcement marks the first time a beach outside Florida or Hawaii has been named to the top position on this celebrated top10 list.

[dsobotta]

Originally Posted by mm34b

Thursday Gov. Mike Easley announced that Ocracoke Beach on Ocracoke Island has been named the No. 1 beach on “Dr. Beach’s Annual America’s Best Beaches” list of 2007. The announcement marks the first time a beach outside Florida or Hawaii has been named to the top position on this celebrated top10 list.

This is a well deserved honor. It is about time Ocracoke got number one. I spent a lot of the summer of 1969 camping on Ocracoke Island. I was in college then and can still remember checking into the only motel on the island so I could watch Neil Armstrong take the first step on the moon.

The beaches were great then, and now they are getting some recognition. We don't have to worry about too many tourists spoiling the place since the town is pretty much at capacity already, and Ocracoke isn't exactly the easiest place to reach.

We last visited in the summer of 2004 when we drove down from Nags Head after staying at the First Colony Inn.

The Ocracoke beaches were then rated third in the world.

Here are some pictures from that trip to Ocracoke in 2004.

[jjp4]

I agree that it deserves the title, but I hope this doesn't ruin what makes Ocracoke special.

[BarbaraNJ]

It is definately beautiful there. We usually vacation around Waves or Salvo but always take the ferry over for a day. Love it there.

[NC man]

Originally Posted by BarbaraNJ

It is definately beautiful there. We usually vacation around Waves or Salvo but always take the ferry over for a day. Love it there.

Oh No another number one ranking. Its like a turkey call, all the turkeys will show up and over develope it.

[clodhopper]

I remember when I was a boy, Ocracoake was as isolated as Africa to us then. Heck anything on the OB required safari level planning for a few days stay. There was one cop on the whole OB. I tried then to imagine it in Blackbeard's day and couldn't do it. It is a wonderful area and deserves it's spot at #1.

[mm34b]

The CNN news report - Ocracoke Island tops best beaches list - CNN.com (broken link)

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by clodhopper

I remember when I was a boy, Ocracoake was as isolated as Africa to us then. Heck anything on the OB required safari level planning for a few days stay. There was one cop on the whole OB. I tried then to imagine it in Blackbeard's day and couldn't do it. It is a wonderful area and deserves it's spot at #1.

LOL I did that in may try to imagine when any european sail over in their wooden ship to the outer banks

I bet that was just cussing away when they wrecked in diamond shoals then if I made it to any of the islands and didnt know that it was a island and walk across and saw the sound I would have thought oh great more atlantic ocean and turn around and head back lol I would have never made it to the inland. hehe

[LittleDolphin]

If you'd like to read more about Ocracoke (and Beaufort--the Little Easy) below are two links to travel articles I wrote about Ocracoke and Beaufort for a web site called www.exinthecity (broken link) for the newly divorced.

Ocracoke and Beaufort are two dear places where time moves differently---more slowly and with more hours. People are kind here. Good places to reinvent yourself. Come in the fall in October and November for stillness and uncrowded beaches...

Ocracoke Island Vacation - Ocracoke Island Trip - Ocracoke Island City Guide - Exinthecity

Beaufort Vacation - Beaufort Trip - North Carolina - Exinthecity

Enjoy...LittleDolphin